Peter Birke

Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation

Papers

Total Citations

H-Index

About

Peter Birke is a leading researcher in sustainable manufacturing and circular economy, with a primary focus on the automated disassembly of electric vehicle battery systems. His work directly addresses the critical challenge of securing raw materials like lithium and cobalt, whose supply chains are increasingly volatile. Birke’s major contribution lies in developing flexible automation solutions for dismantling high-voltage battery packs into individual modules, tackling product variance, safety risks, and labor shortages that hinder recycling at scale. His most-cited 2024 paper on this topic has already garnered 10 citations, reflecting its timely importance. By bridging robotics, process engineering, and resource efficiency, Birke’s research enables safer, more economically viable pathways to battery reuse and material recovery—a cornerstone for the green transition. His work is essential reading for anyone interested in the intersection of automation, e-waste management, and the future of clean energy supply chains.